Cisco Consulting Thought Leadership

Thought Leadership Catalog

Hierarchical Navigation

Discover Our Internet Business Solutions

Customers are transforming the way they do business with the help of Cisco. Discover the return on investment these industry leaders have experienced through the implementation of Internet business solutions.

Use the filters below to sort the IBSG Thought Leadership Catalog by industry, region or content type. A Cisco.com login is required prior to downloading any materials. Please register here.

The Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) Transportation Practice Backgrounder gives an overview of the Cisco IBSG Global Transportation Practice. The Backgrounder discusses the current state of the transportation industry and highlights three key areas of technology that can help companies fuel substantial process improvements

This PoV explores current use of mobile technology in the airline industry, future opportunities, and strategies that will enable airlines to harness the power of mobility to create new levels of customer experience and operational efficiencies.

BA was transitioning employee processes online when the events of Sept. 11 tipped the industry toward financial crisis. To ensure a lasting recovery, BA pursued a more methodical approach to online employee self-service, hoping to achieve greater savings and link to a broader set of transformational goals. To meet these objectives, BA developed a robust, reliable set of metrics to accelerate change and monitor progress. By Mar. 2006, savings reached £38M, on target for BA’s £50M 2007 target.

Deutsche Bahn wanted to implement Project Railnet—an ambitious concept to provide wireless Internet access aboard the company’s high-speed ICE trains in Germany. The result is a powerful strategic partnership with T-Mobile Deutschland that will transform the customer travel experience and unlock new strategic value and competitive advantage for both companies.

Everyone depends on transportation, taking it largely for granted. Yet, demand for services in today's complex, $3 trillion transportation industry is far outstripping supply. In addition, traditional strategies such as building more infrastructure and restricting usage are no longer sustainable. In this book, several leaders and visionaries from different segments of the transportation industry discuss how to meet the challenge of this escalating demand. Order a copy of this book.

CSX Transportation is an innovator in the railroad
industry, changing the way it manages its business
by launching an IP mobility platform that enables
enterprisewide applications to further improve
communications, efficiency, and safety. Resulting
financial benefits are projected to be measured in
the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group has contributed best practice benchmarking advice to Deutsche Post World Net’s market-leading PACKSTATION parcel deposit and retrieval
service, enabling Deutsche Post World Net to differentiate itself from the competition and significantly improve its value and
service to customers.

Understanding decision makers’ current and forward thinking, strategy, and implementation around cloud, including their answers to the overarching question: "How is the enterprise journey to the cloud progressing?"

This presentation provides a six-country comparison of Cisco IBSG's Service Provider Practice 2011 consumer survey on Connected Life service delivery preferences, and the effect of cloud enhancements on consumers' interest in those services.

This presentation provides an overview of IBSG's Service Provider Practice 2011 consumer survey on Connected Life service delivery preferences in France, and the effect of cloud enhancements on consumers' interest in those services.

This presentation provides an overview of IBSG's Service Provider Practice 2011 consumer survey on Connected Life service delivery preferences in Germany, and the effect of cloud enhancements on consumers' interest in those services.

This presentation provides an overview of IBSG's Service Provider Practice 2011 consumer survey on Connected Life service delivery preferences in Italy, and the effect of cloud enhancements on consumers' interest in those services.

Pay-TV service providers need growth opportunities in the face of flattening TV ARPU and increasing competition. This presentation looks at consumer preferences and buyer behavior to help SPs capitalize on next-generation video opportunities. A Connected Life Market Watch Perspective.

Based on Connected Life Market Watch research from Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group, this presentation discusses how service providers can significantly increase adoption of Connected Life services by strategically including cloud enhancements with their offerings.

As Internet traffic skyrockets and fixed broadband ARPU stagnates, usage-based pricing may provide service providers with a tool to manage traffic and spur new revenue. This presentation explores the pros and cons of several potential usage-based pricing offers service providers may want to consider.

This presentation provides an overview of IBSG's Service Provider Practice 2011 consumer survey on Connected Life service delivery preferences in the United Kingdom, and the effect of cloud enhancements on consumers' interest in those services.

With a comprehensively revamped strategy and upgraded technology, Cisco
IBSG and Telecom Italia addressed three key issues that will enable the company
to remain relevant and competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace while
lessening customer churn.

Ultrafast broadband (UBB) offers developed countries a unique opportunity to nurture global economic prosperity. This white paper is intended to ignite discussions with relevant stakeholders on how to plan for UBB.

This presentation provides an overview of IBSG's Service Provider Practice 2011 consumer survey on Connected Life service delivery preferences in Canada, and the effect of cloud enhancements on consumers' interest in those services.

The small and medium-sized business (SMB) market represents a tremendous growth opportunity for cable multiple system operators (MSOs) over the next three to five years. This market has begun to demonstrate communications needs—security, speed, and rich features—that are similar to those of larger businesses. Because of this, SMBs are now adopting managed services such as Ethernet-based access, IP VPN, voice over IP, collaboration, video conferencing, and cloud-based applications and infrastructures. Cable MSOs are uniquely positioned to capture growth in the SMB managed services market by exploiting the benefits of DOCSIS 3.0, or ultra-high-speed Internet access.

BT Wholesale’s Media & Broadcast division supplies services to content providers and media companies in the United Kingdom. Ninety-nine percent of the data that traverses the company’s network is video. In addition, the number of different formats in which the media is delivered is increasing. Because of this, BTW was challenged with how to manipulate and deliver content in mul¬tiple formats simultaneously—and at lower costs—to both BT Wholesale and its customers, while also differentiating itself from its competitors. BT Wholesale worked with the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group on a content distribution network (CDN) architecture that today enables BT to tailor easy-to-use services by allowing the company to bring “in-house” a num¬ber of CDN-related activities that were previously outsourced.

Consumers are more likely to adopt Connected Life services when they include cloud enhancements. In a recent survey, 75 percent of consumers said that it was “critical, differentiating, or mandatory” for SPs to offer at least one cloud enhancement.

As consumers take control of their own video entertainment, service providers face both risks and opportunities. This overview of consumer video transitions in Germany discusses the findings of Cisco IBSG's Connected Life Market Watch research, and offers winning strategies for SPs.

A leading provider of communications, data, and entertainment services was evaluating new services to pursue to offset declining ad revenues. The company was interested in targeted advertising and interactive advertising, but needed assistance in evaluating the available technologies, sizing the market, and deciding among the numerous service models. Cisco IBSG identified a large opportunity for the company in advanced advertising services and developed a go-to-market plan and architectural roadmap.

What happens when two of the hottest topics in the world of technology—"mobility" and "cloud"—collide? Big things—with lots of issues and outstanding questions. Mobile operators need to understand the opportunities presented by mobile cloud, how its future might unfold, and what is needed to ride this latest technological wave.

As consumers take control of their own video entertainment, service providers face both risks and opportunities. This overview of consumer video transitions in Brazil discusses the findings of Cisco IBSG's Connected Life Market Watch research, and offers strategies for SPs to succeed in this new environment.

Stuart Taylor, director of the Service Provider Practice of Cisco IBSG, explains what mobile cloud is, and its potential fordelivery of true n-screen and n-persona, with a wealth of new apps and capabilities. He also describes new opportunities for mobile operators.

Scott Puopolo of the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group reveals how service providers can use a two-sided business model serving both content providers and consumers to profit from online video traffic.

Enterprises are embracing data center virtualization and cloud services to achieve cost savings, but even more important, to support business agility—it is not a matter of if, but rather how much and how fast.

Looking for new sources of revenue, a leading SP asked Cisco IBSG to help it develop new managed services. IBSG proved to the SP that managed telepresence services was a real and lucrative market, and the SP is now a leading provider of managed Cisco TelePresence services.

IBSG experts discuss an interesting new business model that can help create significant incremental value for service providers with the successful implementation of a "Service Provider Push" versus a "Consumer Pull" model.

While the television remains the preferred home entertainment device, the Internet is becoming a key source for video entertainment in China. This analysis of Cisco IBSG’s latest Connected Life Market Watch survey outlines key transitions in video entertainment in China, and suggests service provider opportunities going forward.

While the television remains the preferred home entertainment device, the Internet is becoming a key source for video entertainment. This analysis of Cisco IBSG’s latest Connected Life Market Watch survey outlines key transitions in video entertainment in the United Kingdom, and suggests service provider opportunities going forward.

The fast-growing popularity of online video presents both opportunities and threats to pay-TV. Drawing on data from Cisco IBSG’s Connected Life Market Watch research, this deck offers an analysis of the financial and strategic implications of online video trends, and suggests a winning strategic approach for pay-TV service providers.

In this video, Bryan Mobley, Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group, shares his perspectives on the significant areas of opportunity for cable operators in which to expand and gain their fair share of the business services business, leading to top-line growth.

IBSG experts discuss an interesting new business model that can help create significant incremental value for service providers with the successful implementation of a "Service Provider Push" versus a "Consumer Pull" model.

IBSG Connected Life Market Watch: Fixed Location Usage, Consumers Living Connected Lives.
Cisco IBSG's Kevin Suh shared his perspective on the usage of mobile services by consumers and the opportunities for service providers.

This paper provides an analysis of the incremental service opportunities available to innovative service providers delivering a range of next-generation video and value-added services to both consumers and business customers.

This POV provides service providers with valuable information about the products, technologies, and services they can offer to digital media customers to differentiate themselves in a market that is seeing diminishing returns for traditional services.

The Cisco IBSG Service Provider Practice conducted a survey of 52 German SMBs in December 2009. The employees interviewed were decision makers, buyers or key influencers in the purchase of IT services and equipment. The purpose was to determine how ready German SMBs were to adopt cloud services. The survey revealed that, with some reservations around security and performance, German SMBs are ready for the cloud, and plan to adopt at least some cloud services in the near future. The survey also demonstrated that German SMBs strongly prefer service providers as potential providers of cloud services.

The SMB Cloud Watch survey hopes better understand customer needs and strategies for success and to understand the specific role and opportunity for service providers, and how they might differentiate their cloud offers to SMBs.

Service Provider

Global

Video / Audio

Feb-10

Hear Scott Puopolo discuss the evolution of the service provider industry over the next few years, and how CIOs can take a leading role to position their business for sustained growth over the long term.

The Cisco IBSG Service Provider Practice Backgrounder gives an overview of the Cisco IBSG Service Provider Practice. The Backgrounder highlights the current service provider (SP) landscape, hot issues on the minds of CXOs, areas of opportunities, and how Cisco IBSG helps Fortune Global 500 companies in various SP segments reduce costs, increase revenue, and improve productivity in an industry that is evolving, as a new digital value chain emerges.

The SP Industry Futures research is an important tool that examines how the service provider industry might look in five years and suggests investment choices your customers can make now to increase their likelihood of success.

The evolution of the mobile phone—and the mobile Internet—has different implications for consumers, services providers, and businesses.- For consumers, it’s an opportunity to get more from their mobile phone investment.
- For service providers, this is a great opportunity.
- For all other consumer businesses, it’s the wake-up bell.
Learn why in this latest installment of Connect Life Market Watch, a survey of broadband consumers in 13 countries fielded in January 2009.

The SP Industry Futures research is an important tool that examines how the service provider industry might look in five years and suggests investment choices your customers can make now to increase their likelihood of success.

A Service Portfolio Production Strategy To Increase Service Provider Competitiveness: Converged network-IT services is a broad topic. To help service providers understand how to increase competitiveness by developing a network-IT service portfolio production strategy, Cisco IBSG has created two white papers. Part 1 (this paper) describes the nature of the market opportunity, the ideal solutions portfolio, service production mechanisms, and how service providers should respond today.

This paper describes how service providers can implement an agile business architecture as the basis for smart sourcing strategies to evolve their production capabilities to achieve profitability and growth.

Moving Beyond Content Creation to Providing an Immersive Entertainment Experience - In this Point of View, Cisco IBSG explores three strategies that content providers can adopt in the short, mid, and long term to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities created by evolving technology and consumer behavior.

Following a recent study conducted by the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group, IBSG estimate that MSOs could achieve a 30 percent to 35 percent reduction in technical support costs by improving their product-installation processes.

Broadband offerings are undergoing an evolution, with significant opportunities for operators able to provide the most compelling proposition. Smart Broadband has the potential to be that solution. Operators that embrace it can deliver greater value to their customers, as well as further distance themselves from their competitors.

The service provider industry is absolutely essential to the prosumer’s connected lifestyle, yet these companies have done little to court this segment. Providers need to invest in network infrastructure to deliver seamless, ubiquitous, and secure prosumer experiences across personal and work requirements.

The digital media industry is changing rapidly, with profound impact on the value chain. The most rapidly growing revenues are now coming from Internet ads and online gaming. User-generated content is competing with professional content, and both require a means of distribution. The digital media exchange (DME) is an ideal vehicle for providing digital media distribution, and provides a number of possible revenue models. This Point of View explores the industry landscape and shows how DMEs are emerging as distribution vehicles and revenue engines, using Singapore’s new DME, NexMedia, as an example.

A major U.S. provider of communications, data, and entertainment services is facing intense competition from broadcast satellite companies and incumbent local exchange carriers. In response, the company is launching a series of next-generation services based on Cisco technology. Working with Cisco, the company identified and implemented ways to accelerate deployment of new services with minimum operational impacts. As a result, the service provider is expected to generate cost savings of $2 million to $4 million per service deployed and, more important, realize benefits from faster time to market and reduced customer churn.

In a unique, cross-functional engagement, Cisco and Telstra have signed an alliance that sets the foundation for Telstra’s growth in the enterprise and government markets. The relationship is seen as a "step change," where not only are Telstra and Cisco developing new solutions, but Telstra also will use Cisco’s management platforms inside Telstra’s world-class operations environment.

Historically, mobile devices were tightly tied to the service provider network. This had many advantages, such as brand identification and product differentiation, but also disadvantages, such as the cost of subsidizing the phones. Now that consumers are insisting on having choice in phone selection and mobile manufacturers are pressuring SPs to decouple devices from the network, mobile operators are facing a new, open mobile world. Many do not know how to take advantage of this new game. This Point of View explores how mobile operators can cut costs, attract new customers, become more responsive to the market, and exploit new business opportunities in this new environment.

Singapore has launched a 10-year master plan called Intelligent Nation
2015 (iN2015), designed to encourage groundbreaking use of IT
technologies to serve the citizens of Singapore and create lucrative new
revenue opportunities for the country. Cisco has been one of Singapore's
most critical partners in the development of the digital media vertical
under iN2015, instrumental in formulating business and technical
solutions for the creation of a S$500 million (US$350 million) Digital
Media Exchange (DME).

Driven by a government mandate for cable providers to offer digital TV services, OCN is launching a new entity in Shanghai to create an innovative, interactive TV experience. OCN partnered with the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) to undertake a comprehensive Pay-TV market assessment, define and prioritize interactive TV services, and develop a business plan and partner strategy.

Telecommunications SPs have a window of opportunity to leapfrog traditional IT service providers by accelerating the change to infrastructure-as-a-service and targeting new segments, cementing their position in the SMB market through channel investment and integrated offers.

We are now entering the world of the "Connected Life," where users are creating their own desired experiences—consuming and interacting with multiple sources of content and services when they want, where they want, via their devices of choice. To test Western European consumers’ readiness for a holistic, Connected Life solution, the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) developed a survey that was fielded July 24-August 2, 2007 to an online panel of more than 1,500 broadband consumers in Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and France. The sample surveyed is representative of the broadband population in each country, matching the range of age distribution and gender. This study is an extension of a previous survey conducted by Cisco IBSG in the United States in December 2006, thereby providing transatlantic comparisons. In fact, this new research indicates that broadband users in Western Europe may be even more interested in living the Connected Life than U.S. consumers.

Many visionary enterprises and leading outsourcers are starting to embrace the guiding principles of Strategic Out-Tasking. From an operational perspective, this new model helps drive greater innovation within enterprises, yields higher outsourcer margins, and, more important, reduces partnership risks.

Wipro planned an aggressive inorganic growth strategy based on acquiring entities in new markets and geographies. Wipro developed a comprehensive IT integration playbook, as well as overarching integration guidelines for every functional area of the company. More important, Wipro has developed a corporate culture that recognizes the importance of acquisitions and ensures that dedicated expertise and resources are continually brought to bear, laying the foundation for more successful integrations.

Service provider UNE was formed when a major Colombian conglomerate spun off its telecommunications arm, EPM. In order to better compete with large regional service providers that were entering the Colombian market, UNE leaders wanted to merge the company with several other service providers. To succeed, however, the companies needed to be fully integrated very quickly. With help from the Cisco IBSG, UNE developed a comprehensive framework to integrate the IT foundation of the companies.

The service provider industry is at an important inflection point where CXOs of traditional wireline, wireless, and cable service providers must make important decisions about the future of their companies. If they make the correct choices, they will enjoy future leadership positions and significant growth. If CXOs fail to execute, however, they risk relegating their companies to “also-rans” in a new and exciting market. This situation has developed because technological advances, changes in consumer behavior, and market forces have all come together to create a significant new opportunity in the service provider industry. This opportunity has been coined “Connected Life” by Cisco IBSG.

Hanaro Telecom, a leading service provider in Korea, was facing a pitched battle for subscribers with large, entrenched competitors. The company had developed an innovative IP video-on-demand offering that was beginning to gain traction in the market, but Hanaro leaders were unsure of the next step to take. Working closely with Cisco® business consultants and technology experts, Hanaro crafted a comprehensive new business and technology strategy to roll out Korea’s first mass-market IP television (IPTV) service. With the new service, Hanaro is offering a differentiated value proposition to consumers, breaking away from a head-to-head battle on prices with its competitors, and cementing a new, more prominent role for itself in the Korean service provider industry.

As demands for connectivity continually increased and attention turned to the competitive advantages of IP networks, current and potential Sprint customers began to focus more and more on security concerns. While fears about possible damage from invasive digital viruses and worms made for the most visible headlines, regulatory compliance requirements lifted network security into the realm of mission-critical necessity.

In the face of changing technology and heightened customer demands, Sprint executives decided in 2002 that the company needed to redirect its strategy to remain competitive, initiating a program aimed at transforming Sprint from a product-centric enterprise into a business that revolves around customer solutions. A key part of that change involved a focus on industry-specific solutions that capitalized on wireless and IP communications.

Leading global systems integrator Computer Sciences Corporation was searching for new ways to enhance their portfolio of services with new innovative, differentiable service offerings. With assistance from the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group, CSC formulated a cohesive strategy for deploying a new portfolio of network-enabled service offerings that could lead to significant increases in revenue and improve value-creation for customers substantially.

To create new revenue streams, Orange Business Services wanted to develop an end-to-end solution for the high-value healthcare sector—acquiring systems integration expertise to extend its managed service offering. Working with Cisco, OBS developed this capability—based on a Cisco Medical-Grade Network design and a converged, wireless, intelligent IP infrastructure—and is already winning new business.

Working with Cisco, T-Systems has better served the needs of its customers and exploit new opportunities in Germany. Project Navigator enabled T-Systems to bring to market a powerful portfolio of IP-based solutions for large enterprises, the mid-market, and SMB segments. Stronger propositions have helped T-Systems to increase its win rates significantly.

The SMB Managed Service program marked an important milestone for China Telecom in its strategic transformation roadmap. Small and medium businesses now enjoy integrated VPN based services plus managed security powered by Cisco, all at affordable costs. This video provides a holistic story of joint effort and market success, with presence from both CEO and COO of China Telecom.

Deutsche Bahn wanted to implement Project Railnet—an ambitious concept to provide wireless Internet access aboard the company’s high-speed ICE trains in Germany. The result is a powerful strategic partnership with T-Mobile Deutschland that will transform the customer travel experience and unlock new strategic value and competitive advantage for both companies.

Kabel Deutschland’s unique triple-play package
has enabled the company to offer a real alternative
to customers: attractive bundles of Internet (Kabel
Highspeed) and telephone services (Kabel Phone)
via cable, as well as analog and digital TV—all from
a single source. The company’s triple-play offer,
completed with the support of the Cisco Systems®
Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), means
that German subscribers no longer need to buy
DSL bundled with an analog telephone or ISDN line,
saving customers the basic fee for telephony.

With assistance from Cisco IBSG, Orbitel designed an entirely new business strategy based around Wi-Max access, and developed a detailed roadmap for bringing new services to market. Orbitel was able to successfully launch its new product portfolio and has already gained a strong foothold in the market.

Telekom Malaysia partnered with Cisco to make the leap from traditional voice to an integrated voice and data service provider. Entering into an alliance partnership, they developed and accelerated an IP services and go-to-market strategy for the Malaysian enterprise market, experiencing a 20 percent monthly growth rate and on target to triple revenue.

3 Italy and Cisco have worked together to create a new business model—a revenue-sharing, collaborative framework with systems integrators and application developers—that promises to break the Italian small-business market wide open. The shared revenue model is creating new channels and opportunities for application development targeted at small and medium-sized business customers.

Service Provider

EMEAR

Success Story

Jun-06

Vodafone, Cisco, and Cisco’s Linksys joined forces to create a widely available, low-cost solution for providing mobile broadband connectivity to workgroups, households, and communities. It enables group access—instant, convenient, and secure—to remote corporate networks, e-mail, and the Internet. In doing so, the companies developed a new model for successful collaboration between a mobile operator and the IT industry.

BellSouth worked with Cisco IBSG to analyze business opportunities and identify the new capabilities, focusing on a transition to an intelligent service delivery model. With IBSG’s help, BellSouth was able to zero in on the most attractive business opportunities, prioritize investments in new capabilities, and develop a detailed roadmap for bringing new offerings to market.

Cox Business Services wanted to transform the company’s core business model from supplying traditional access services to becoming a full-service provider of converged IP voice and data solutions. Working with Cisco IBSG, Cox was able to develop a cohesive strategy to market, sell, deliver, and support the new portfolio, and reduce time to market of the new solutions.

Service Provider

EMEAR

Video / Audio

May-06

Belgacom and Cisco created an outsourced service aimed at small and medium-sized companies that integrates managed IP telephony, data, and security services – using Cisco Unified CallManager.

BT and Cisco developed a strategic alliance to successfully bring to market a wide portfolio of IP-based solutions. The two companies combined resources to create joint sales and marketing strategies. Results so far include better-than-expected financial returns in Europe, delivering direct benefits to the BT and Cisco global platform. The next stage is to replicate this winning model across the rest of the world.

Bell Canada and Cisco formed a partnership in early 2004 to accelerate the creation, commercialization, and delivery of next-generation IP services, reduce costs by Cdn$1.5B within two years, and improve operational efficiency.

Service Provider

EMEAR

Video / Audio

Jan-06

Unique triple-play offer proves instant success for Germany's leading cable operator
KDG. The IBSG led engagement focused on service creation and helping the customer to effectively deploy broadband and IP telephony services.

Building on 50 years of experience, Equant is a
recognized industry leader providing global IP
and data services to more than 3700 multinational
businesses in over 220 countries and territories.
Facing a declining market and shrinking profit
margins of their traditional services, Equant
engaged Cisco to help increase the profitability
of its core managed services, specifically IP VPN.
Conducting a real-time industry benchmark in
parallel with a deep-dive assessment of Equant’s
IP VPN Sales-to-Cash process, Cisco identified
areas of potential.

Service Provider

Americas

Success Story

Nov-05

SBC decided it needed to get into the MPLS networking business because its customers were requesting more functionality and intelligence in the network. SBC turned to IBSG to help frame the competitive MPLS environment and differentiate its new NVPN-based services. Data provided by IBSG helped SBC educate its sales force on the cost benefits and ease of integration NVPN provided SBC customers.

Service Provider

EMEAR

Video / Audio

Oct-05

BT Global Services and Cisco are working together to create the digital network economy, and bring value to customers.

Under the framework of go-to-market alliance with Cisco, AT&T developed and successfully launched a managed intrusion detection service (MIDS)—enabling it to accelerate time to market, ensure a better service rollout, and establish a stronger value proposition. As a result, AT&T has secured competitive advantage in a crowded market and created valuable new revenue streams.

For Belgacom, identifying new service opportunities is essential to future growth, and the company collaborates with Cisco to assess the market potential and financial viability of new services. The latest offering – based on Cisco CallManager Express – provides managed IP Telephony, Internet access and security. Flexible pricing options have made this ‘office in a box’ an attractive proposition for SMB companies.

Service Provider

EMEAR

Success Story

Oct-05

AT&T's aim is to deliver the ultimate 'stealth' networkm completely undetectable from the outside.
The demands of protecting enterprise networks continue to keep many CIO's awake at night and, as
AT&T moves towards this vision, it wanted to develop and launch a managed intrusion detection service
for business customers in EMEA.

Service Provider

EMEAR

Video / Audio

Oct-05

Vodaphone implemented a Cisco IP network to transform its business to become a next generation service provider.

Vodafone identified objectives to boost incremental revenue, improve speed to market, and facilitate cost avoidance. Two major initiatives were launched to meet these objectives: Littlebox and IP Factory. Not only will these solutions change the shape of the mobile phone industry, but they are set to generate US$870M of incremental revenue and cost avoidance for Vodafone.

A unique partnership between Telecom Italia and
Cisco Systems combines the resources of the
foremost Italian service provider with the
experience and technologies of the world leader in
Internet-based communications. The result is a
flexible and customised value proposition for the
retail sector based on innovative and best-of-breed
solutions from an ecosystem of partners –
supported by a single IP network – forming the
basis for similar offerings to other vertical industries
in the future.

By working with Cisco as its partner, Orange has
developed a forward-looking integrated voice
and data service delivery platform for corporate
customers that is attracting new business and
helping to increase its UK market share. Now
firmly established as a credible business market
player, Orange is building on its success and aiming
to broaden the solution’s appeal, once again in
partnership with Cisco.

When COLT identified strong customer demand for
a high-speed, any-to-any Ethernet service that
would operate throughout Europe, a close
collaboration with Cisco helped it not only to build
this innovative service, but also to develop a
business case that would give COLT a rapid return
on investment and an 18-month market lead.

With the country’s largest market capitalisation, Portugal Telecom has successfully evolved through privatisation, market liberalisation and business diversification. Its journey of organisational transformation has led the company to focus on the efficiency gains provided by e-enablement.

As part of a long-term relationship with Turkcell, Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group has been using its web enablement best practice and benchmarking expertise to help the company transform its mission critical processes. Turkcell e-transformation initiatives such as e-HR and e-Learning sit alongside process automation software and corporate portal developments.

A unique partnership between Telecom Italia and
Cisco Systems combines the resources of the
foremost Italian service provider with the
experience and technologies of the world leader in
Internet-based communications. The result is a
flexible and customised value proposition for the
retail sector based on innovative and best-of-breed
solutions from an ecosystem of partners –
supported by a single IP network – forming the
basis for similar offerings to other vertical industries
in the future.

Originally developed around five years ago to boost major sales outcomes, BT’s Partnership Evaluation Model (PEM) has become an industry-leading methodology for improving a company’s key strategic partnerships. The highly effective strategic alliance between BT and Cisco is testimony to the world-class partnering skills of both companies.

The communications industry is undergoing massive change, and nowhere is this more evident than in the arena of consumer broadband. Virtually every service provider is attempting to capture this still-nascent but exploding market – from incumbents, alternative service providers, and cable and satellite operators to mobile and Internet portals. This selection of essays provides a look at the forces that are shaping the consumer broadband market, with the goal of helping service providers adapt to and profit from this opportunity. Order a copy of this book.

This paper describes how the consumer broadband market is emerging during a time of tremendous change in the telecommunications industry. Conditions vary globally but service providers worldwide are experiencing many of the same trends.

Introducing a new home furnishings retail experience to meet the demands of todays digital savvy shoppers. An instore and online experience that inspires and helps shoppers to make home purchases with confidence.

In the midst of economic and demographic challenges, three emerging, technology-enabled, self-service retail trends can be brought together to create Digital Malls—a new opportunity for retailers, mall developers, consumer products manufacturers, and others in the retail value chain.

Cloud computing encompasses a combination of well-tested IT best practices that are already speeding time to market, accelerating innovation, lowering costs, and improving management for leading retailers.

Based on research conducted by the Cisco® Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) Retail Practice,
this paper describes the key challenges, size of the opportunity, global best practices, and
next steps for retailers looking to "go global" with e-commerce.

After introducing a new agenda for an aggressive growth plan, a multibillion-dollar consumer packaged goods company led by a new executive management team partnered with Cisco to build out a digital footprint that would address myriad opportunities and provide the foundation for extending and enhancing the platform’s capabilities. The result was a cohesive communications platform that aligns senior management quickly, and connects with and motivates employees across the globally dispersed organization.

A major retailer struggling with its e-commerce site lagged in the areas of growth and customer experience. Facing the critical holiday season, the company needed to quickly upgrade its e-commerce customer experience—particularly in regard to new capabilities such as video, mobility, and social media—to effectively compete and position itself for rapid innovation in multichannel retailing.

Retail and CPG

Global

Other - Publication

Jun-11

How Retailers Can Thrive in a Rapidly Changing World

Retail and CPG

Global

Other - Publication

Jun-11

Retailers are responding to technology-savvy consumers by combining Web-like and in-store shopping experiences.

Over the past three years, Cisco IBSG and P&G have forged a partnership that is anything but ordinary. It’s a relationship founded on deep trust and willingness on both sides to redefine
client-vendor roles, and to accept the risks that go along with that.

This Point of View paper from the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) explores how major e-commerce players in Asia and Europe are quickly partnering and consolidating to create cross-continent platforms that allow them to expand to the United States and elsewhere without first opening physical stores. To address this challenge, both multichannel and pure-play U.S. retailers need to start thinking of themselves as global e-commerce retailers.

Cisco IBSG's Lisa Fretwell explores Cisco ServicePresence - a virtual, real-life service concept that allows customers to conduct face-to-face discussions with experts who may be thousands of miles away.

This paper examines several technological and demographic transitions and their implications for retailers, and suggests six steps retailers can take to prepare for the "New Normal" of North American retail.

The paper discusses the role of ICT in agricultural development, and suggests a framework for implementing ICT solutions in a rural setting, helping to reduce poverty, strengthen smallholder agricultural value chains, and grow GDP.

As Canadian Tire grew, so did the amount of paper pushed out to its dealers. With visions of a paperless communications process, Canadian Tire created an interactive, online connected collaboration platform that organizes, prioritizes, and filters retail program content, as well as provides access for feedback, saving Canadian Tire significant time and money.

Cisco worked closely with P&G to create a communication-enabled business process founded on the Cisco TelePresence solution. The purpose: enable true collaboration with partners and customers to speed decision-making while reducing the need for travel. Adoption rate has exceeded expectations; critical decisions are now made in minutes vs. days; and global collaboration without the need for excessive travel has helped P&G blaze a trail to collaboration and innovation leadership.

Featuring CCE's CEO, CIO and SVP of Public Affairs, the video highlights key Cisco messages such as collaboration, CXO relevancy, Unified Communications, and "network as the platform" in an executive communications solution for the world's #1 brand.

Case study highlighting how Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) worked with IBSG as a strategic partner to accelerate executive communications, bringing its employees on board with the company's first-ever Global Operating Framework. Collaborating with other groups within Cisco such as Corporate Positioning, Digital Media Systems, IT, Sales, and Human Resources to develop and execute a Unified Communications solution, the Cisco team implemented the solution in an astounding six weeks, allowing CCE's executive staff to quickly begin using video, VoD, real-time broadcast, and meeting in a box to communicate the company's new vision and strategy to employees around the world.

The ExecNet video provides an overview of the latest trends in retail from Mohsen Moazami, vice president of IBSG's Retail /Consumer Products practice. Specifically, the video covers how the expectations of today's "connected consumer" are transforming the way retailers implement technology in their stores.

Having implemented virtual networking and workplace collaboration, with a successful period of technology-based innovation through its Future Store Initiative, METRO Group sought to embed innovation more deeply in its business processes. With Cisco IBSG, METRO Group has built a structured framework and governance model to capture and develop new ideas, maintaining its competitive advantage and offering sustainable, differentiated value to customers.

The Research & Economics Practice of Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) has conducted extensive research and analysis to uncover key insights about the use of business video in U.S. enterprises.

A pivotal feature of today's most innovative and valuable real estate is connectivity—the ability to facilitate intercommunication and interaction among buildings and digital infrastructures. Connected Real Estate contains viewpoints and advice from many of the real estate and construction industry's most innovative players from around the world. Order a copy of this book.

Mobility has been critical to man's survival since the beginning of history. The collection of essays in this book brings together the views of senior business leaders and renowned market innovators on how mobility is changing their business practices and shaping our future. Order a copy of this book.

Knowledge production is moving from creation by individual specialists to creation by communities of practice. Peer partnerships between ICT companies and "local" organizations — powered by "people software" -- are defining a new path toward increased competitiveness for developing countries.

With the appropriate business models and architectures, the network can provide the platform for delivering e-skills, exchanging knowledge among citizens and communities (both local and global), and supporting economic development.

Considered a “tiger” among European nations, Poland has the highest foreign direct investment in the region and is a hub for Central and Eastern European businesses. While Poland’s GDP slowed significantly in 2009 due to the global recession, it was the only country in Europe to experience positive GDP growth. Sound policies and investments that promote and accelerate the adoption of information and communications technology can play an important role in improving Poland’s competitiveness . This Point of View from the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group discusses how Poland can develop an aggressive case for integrating the country’s development plans and strategy for a nationwide broadband infrastructure that would realize significant ROI.

Digital technologies coupled with appropriate training, services, and content offer urban and rural areas an increasing range of innovative solutions. While some individuals can afford broadband services to the home, Internet access is prohibitively costly for the vast majority in developing countries. There are, however, some innovative ways to use ICT to support
development in these communities.

Cisco IBSG asserts that to unlock the global ICT markets and transform people's lives, it is essential for ICT corporations and governments to work from the bottom up by building "peer" partnerships with organizations that have a proven "people software" and a record of success in working at large scale with disadvantaged communities

The Kingdom of Bahrain engaged Cisco IBSG to optimize information and all aspects of government that include HR, finance, and ICT. Cisco IBSG's work resulted in a projected unit cost at least 10 percent lower, improved communicaitons within government, and reduced downtime and security risk.

If we want to build a society where citizens feel closer to their public institutions and more in control of these institutions’ impact on their day-to-day lives, we need to build a model of government that learns from, and learns to adapt to, the more-connected world in which citizens now live.

If we want to build a society where citizens feel closer to their public institutions and more in control of these institutions’ impact on their day-to-day lives, we need to build a model of government that learns from, and learns to adapt to, the more-connected world in which citizens now live.

This paper assesses the evidence and finds strong support in the economic literature for the notion that network technology has the potential to boost economic growth permanently, sustainably enriching poorer societies.

As the first year of the Obama presidency draws to a close, some assessment is in order. In this Forum, organized by Cisco IBSG, the same team of analysts, experts, and government executives who outlined a management agenda for the new president report on the administration’s actual agenda.

Cisco IBSG analyzes the three main aspects of the Obama administration’s open government agenda—transparency, public participation, and collaboration—and assesses lessons that can be learned from activities the administration has undertaken in these areas.

Public Sector and Education

Global

Video / Audio

Dec-09

Gerald Charles, Jr., Executive Advisor, Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group explores the future of work: the power of presence, influence of video, the green workplace. The video is to help educate how technologies come together to help a workforce achieve individual day-to-day work goals as well as a company's overall corporate vision.

IBSG provides a high-level overview of cloud computing, outlines some of the key benefits it could deliver to government, looks at some of the most important challenges cloud computing may pose for government, and suggests some early steps that can be taken toward its adoption.

Cisco IBSG and Swan Island Networks are releasing a white paper that suggests a new path for governments and their partners to connect virtually, across organizational boundaries, and share even sensitive information.

In continuing to address the core challenges of an economically mature
and technologically advanced country, Denmark's Steering Committee for
Joint Government Cooperation in 2007 initiated a business architecture
program designed to develop a coherent enterprise architecture for the
public sector. Through the program, Denmark plans to promote
transformative, cross-institutional e-government initiatives on an
ongoing basis, increasing business transparency and reducing complexity.

Cisco and the Discovery Channel take the lead in connecting people to tomorrow's reality. Watch Cisco IBSG visionary Dave Evans talk about the Connected Bus solution that was co-developed by Cisco IBSG and the City of San Francisco as part of Cisco's Connected Urban Development Initiative.

Serbian business leaders developed an education program based on Cisco's IBSG Business Essentials course. Working with key partners in the Serbian public sector and private industry, the group launched a series of pilots of the course at Novi Sad University. Individuals from dozens of Serbian small businesses and municipal governments participated, and developed detailed business plans for transforming their organizations using ICT.

The Hospital d'Igualada in Spain is a showcase for digital transformation and e-health solutions. Based on a Cisco Medical-Grade Network, this connected healthcare environment provides anytime, anywhere access to patient data, better collaboration and use of hospital resources, and improved medical services to citizens. An increase in the number of patients treated, and reductions in administrative work for doctors and in-patient hospital stays are among the benefits about to be realized. The hospital is also exploring opportunities for digital integration with other health organizations.

The EU has committed as much as 10 billion euros over the next six years to help Polish businesses and government agencies enhance their ICT infrastructure, but the country did not have a centralized master plan to direct those investments. Polish educators and business development planners worked with Cisco IBSG to create an education program that provides vital ICT and management education.

Tiradentes, a small tourist town in Brazil once known for mining gold, has become the impetus for the nation's plans to revamp its ICT infrastructure, eventually extending broadband throughout the country. Brazil's leaders believe that broadband, a prized commodity available to only a small portion of Brazilian citizens, and innovative ICT solutions will help Brazil compete with other emerging countries, improving medical care, education, and public services to citizens rich and poor.

Planning for aggressive growth, as well as striving to meet student demand for next-generation technologies, Arizona State University began to rethink its existing IT business model based on a vertically integrated IT staff responsible for managing all facets of the network. Working with Cisco, Arizona State identified which IT activities, based on a “core versus context” model, directly supported the university’s goals and then aligned itself with leading-edge, visionary technology partners.

Adopting Apple's iTunes U, Berkeley planned to distribute video-heavy podcasting, which requires the assurance of a stable, comprehensive network. Berkeley's network follows the Cisco Hierarchical Network Architecture design and as a leading institution, Berkeley has raised the bar for campuses looking to maintain competitiveness through a next-generation, multimedia learning environment.

In an age where campus safety has become a critical priority, Bryant University wanted to improve emergency response time by extending the capability of its Cisco IPICS network to link the campus with public safety agencies both on and off campus. Using Bryant’s campus IPICS network, six regional dispatch centers now have their own virtual public safety channel to help them coordinate both large and small response operations.

To reduce costs, promote economic development, and improve citizen services, the city of Istanbul has adopted a service-oriented architecture for the municipal infrastructure, using collaborative technologies, laid municipal fiber ducts to accelerate broadband adoption, and is launching 250 connected community centers with access to a new citizen portal.

Government is moving into the information age, but not fast enough. Effective government is faced with a 21st-century government paradox - minimizing the complexity of administrative protocols to determine who is reponsible for what, How, to whom, when, and where information is available can fundamentally influence the success or failure of public institutions charged with safeguarding communities.

Facing cutbacks in its budget and changed operational priorities, the Netherlands Defense Force needed to restructure its internal communications and deploy a shared services model for issues such as medical support, food supplies and military procurement. Cisco IBSG helped the service branches develop a common portal, providing a highly efficient communications model, access to shared services, and stronger sense of shared corporate identity at around one fifth of the former cost.

Yalova, a midsized city in north-eastern Turkey, was keen to become as a ‘pilot city’ for e-government and attract investors through the transformation of its municipal efficiency and citizen services. The municipality worked with Cisco IBSG to define a series of projects that would improve its chances, seeking ‘quick wins’ to gain the full support of citizens. Projects range from mobile working and a citizen portal, to a new technology park and broadband access for all.

With the goal of helping Egyptian citizens and businesses become more competitive and successful in the global economy, the government of Egypt launched a nationwide initiative to transform its education system. The Egyptian Education Initiative (EEI) needed to develop strong curricula and coordinate the efforts of dozens of agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private companies.

Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology wanted to develop a state-of-the-art e-learning program to educate Egyptian professionals, but they needed to find an effective curriculum, as well as develop an infrastructure for delivering the instruction. With IBSG’s assistance, the ministry developed a national E-Learning Competence Center (ELCC) and a comprehensive e-learning curriculum to address critical skills gaps in Egypt.

The U.S. Navy Space and Warfare Command (SPAWAR) Systems Center Charleston (SSC) is a fee-for-service organization doing its share to help ensure that U.S. warfighters are equipped with the latest technology. Recognizing the need to evolve their organizational effectiveness and efficiency, SPAWAR SSC worked with Cisco to analyze their organization, adopting a network virtual organization (NVO) which resulted in lower costs and increased speed of delivery of systems to fight the global war on terror.
The U.S. Navy Space and Warfare Command (SPAWAR) Systems Center Charleston (SSC) is a fee-for-service organization doing its share to help ensure that U.S. warfighters are equipped with the latest technology. Recognizing the need to evolve their organizational effectiveness and efficiency, SPAWAR SSC worked with Cisco to analyze their organization, adopting a network virtual organization (NVO) which resulted in lower costs and increased speed of delivery of systens to fight the global war on terror.

Marshall Space Flight Center, one of five NASA Centers in the U.S., was recently confronted by a number of issues caused by growth—such as overlapping organizational layers and diverse core competencies—as well as a Congressional directive to become more market-driven and performance-based. Applying Cisco’s knowledge, benchmarking, and best practices, IBSG helped Marshall develop solutions, resulting in avoiding costs of US$1.05 million annually, reducing the processing time of Senior Executive Service vacancies by 60 percent, saving 31,600 productivity hours, and achieving US$1.7 million in cost avoidance.

Advanced technologies, such as wireless networking, have great potential for enabling cultural sites to communicate more directly and imaginatively with the visiting public. At the Palace of Versailles, one of Europe's most treasured locations, technology is heightening the visitor experience and bringing history to life, not to mention increasing foot traffic and creating new revenue streams.

Harnessing the power of technology to deliver business transformation, Saudi Post is putting in place a visionary e-commerce platform and service-centric model that connects the organization, its customers, and potential partners. Not only will this provide high-quality postal services at reduced costs, it will also promote collaboration and deliver many socio-economic benefits to the kindgom.

Faced with expanding workloads and shrinking budgets, the Center for Work and Income, in the Netherlands, took the bold step of enabling its customers to apply for unemployment benefits online using an innovative application, eIntake. Today, nearly half of all such applications are now processed over the Internet, reducing the agency's administrative burden and enabling staff to concentrate on helping their customers find suitable new employment.

The World Economic Forum set out to tackle the global digital divide through an innovative program known as Information Technology Access for Everyone. The Forum called on the private sector to help create a strategic plan for market-based services aimed at economic improvement and greater social inclusion. The result was a successful pilot in a poor part of Brazil, proving both the demand for services and a willingness to pay for them.

England, Scotland, and N. Ireland are transforming education by developing a cohesive national vision and ICT strategy. While each is taking a different route, all are making progress towards improved academic excellence and increased efficiency. The common denominator is an enterprise best practice approach that builds education services, such as digital tools, personalized content, and shared resources, around learners and teachers, while establishing scaleable, sustainable ICT services.

Almere Social Services sought to better manage its unemployment benefits budget, its associated financial risk, and improve social services. Working with the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group, Almere transformed the department’s processes, organization, and approach to technology. Overall department operational costs will be reduced 15 percent within three years, while the number of unemployed clients undertaking workforce integration activities will increase to 80 percent.

IBSG helped OneCommunity, formerly OneCleveland, create a digital community in northeastern Ohio. The goal of OneCommunity is to promote economic development, improve the lives of Ohio’s citizens, and bring greater prosperity to the region. The foundation of the digital community is OneCommunity's mesh wireless network which runs on a Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture framework.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies wanted to use information and communications technology (ICT) to improve its speed of response to disasters. Cisco’s IBSG helped to modify the existing structure. The resulting “NinaB”—network in a box— provides easier access to critical information and tools, improving the effectiveness of its operation and reducing costs.

Oxfam International wanted to improve speed and quality of response to humanitarian crises. Cisco helped Oxfam develop a model, putting a web-based, generic content and information management tool within the reach of the smallest Non Government Agency. Acting as a single repository for global information, including content for multilanguage Websites, it has improved communication and collaboration as well as supporting better, faster decision-making.

The Province of Brescia, Italy working with Cisco developed a public/private partnership model to bridge the digital divide—connecting citizens and local businesses with the information, tools, and skills needed to succeed in today’s global economy.

Public Sector and Education

EMEAR

Success Story

May-06

Embarking on an ambitious project to transform service delivery, the government of Catalonia built a Shared Services Center (SSC) enabling citizens to access all services through a single portal. Citizen satisfaction regarding the speed of migrated services doubled in six months, with projected cost savings over three years of 15.5 million euros.

The government of British Columbia streamlined their procurement of IT services, cutting costs by over 15 percent. With Cisco’s help, they developed a defensible strategy for IT procurement and (where appropriate) strategic outsourcing. The government is using the savings to help bridge the “digital divide” in the province by investing in additional technology infrastructure in underserved rural communities.

Ethiopia is committing scarce economic resources and strong political will to a bold investment program that uses IP-based networking as a long-term solution to poverty. Cisco worked closely with the Ethiopian Government to design and build a modern, flexible infrastructure to fulfill that vision.

The Government of Brazil partnered with IBSG to integrate public service delivery channels across federal, state, and municipal levels of government, improving services and ensuring their access to citizens and businesses alike. The country’s Government Interaction Network (G-IN) led to cost efficiencies worth an estimated US$8 billion and an enhanced reputation as a citizen-centric government.

The New York City Housing Authority asked IBSG to develop new business goals and an IT plan to achieve them. IBSG shared best practices to redefine and align NYCHA’s business objectives and IT initiatives, developed a five-year strategic IT plan, and showed NYCHA IT how to save time and money by operating as a Networked Virtual Organization.

Building on 50 years of experience, Equant is a
recognized industry leader providing global IP
and data services to more than 3700 multinational
businesses in over 220 countries and territories.
Facing a declining market and shrinking profit
margins of their traditional services, Equant
engaged Cisco to help increase the profitability
of its core managed services, specifically IP VPN.
Conducting a real-time industry benchmark in
parallel with a deep-dive assessment of Equant’s
IP VPN Sales-to-Cash process, Cisco identified
areas of potential.

IBSG has developed the concept of the 21st Century Networked Local Government as its vision for the future. This vision highlights the different areas where local governments can use technology to transform their operations and deliver greater value to citizens.

Public Sector and Education

Americas

Success Story

Nov-05

IBSG teamed with the Alberta provincial education ministry for a ground-breaking pilot project to explore the feasibility of using Internet technology to enable both remote development of assessment items and online student field testing. The project, which has attracted worldwide attention, also lays the foundation for broader application of this exciting technology in Alberta and beyond.

Julie Williams testified before Congress regarding the topics of teleworking and continuity of operations (COOP). IBSG's official testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform supports the President's National Broadband policy and suggests Congress evaluate proven private-sector incentives to reduce transportation costs and promote Federal Telework adoption.

Wide-scale Interactive Development for Educators
(WIDE World), an innovative professional development
program run by the Harvard Graduate School
of Education (HGSE), successfully pairs online
coursework and face-to-face support for practicing
teachers.

Public Sector and Education

EMEAR

Success Story

Sep-05

The DWP has introduced Oracle e-Business suite functionality, delivering early savings and laying the foundations for future culture change. The DWP continues to accelerate towards its vision for modernization. With over 130,000 employees due to benefit, the DWP has rolled out its staff information system in record time, releasing around 100 people from its service centers and delivering savings of £1.2 million per annum.

Public Sector and Education

EMEAR

Video / Audio

Sep-05

In August 2005, a group of eight volunteers, including Beth Land and Linda Hightower, spent a week in Ethiopia instructing students and teachers on the benefits of using computers and technology.

Bryant University has deployed an intelligent Cisco
network to support a rich variety of voice, video, and
data applications that enrich learning and collaboration,
improve student career opportunities, boost administrative
productivity, and extend networking resources
beyond the classroom.

After several years of working together on discrete
projects, the north German federal states of
Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein have merged their
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
departments. The new organisation – Dataport – h
standardised on IP with Cisco technologies to bring
different networks together to provide a seamle
architecture for services such as security, mobility
and quality of service.

Coping with budget cuts, outdated business processes,
and a downgraded Presidential Management
Agenda (PMA) IT security scorecard, the Small
Business Administration needed to upgrade its infrastructure,
reduce costs, and be more responsive to a
growing number of small business owners reaching
out for help. Teaming with Cisco IBSG, the SBA began
to transform its business strategy and look for process
innovation opportunities to achieve its goals.

The administration of President Vicente Fox has
brought federal services closer to the Mexican
people, electronically opening more than 1000
government services to public access and scrutiny,
creating digital signatures to help streamline the
processing of individual citizen requests, and fostering
public trust through the implementation of a
transparent, online government procurement and
bidding process.

This book describes the next phase of e-government transformation, what Cisco calls the "Connected Republic." This vision puts people and communities at the center of new networks of knowledge, service, trust, and accountability. The approach helps define the role of government, explains how to modernize the public sector, and shows how to strengthen democracy.

Launched in 2004, i-Bulgaria is an ambitious plan by the Bulgarian Government to make the country more PC and Internet literate. A major part of the strategy involves i-Centres, based in hundreds of rural post offices across Bulgaria, enabling local people to affordably access the Internet. It is hoped this will not only drive wealth creation but will also close Bulgaria’s digital divide. Cisco is playing a key part in the rollout, providing expertise and hardware.

The City of Slupsk and Cisco have demonstrated
the power of an information society to increase
efficiencies, provide better access to services,
and stimulate regional economies through a
public/private partnership network services
model. Importantly, the initiative shows how a
modern IP network can be the catalyst for change
to address wide-reaching social and economic
problems.

For many police departments across the United
States, homeland security is just a new name for an
age-old mission—to protect and defend. In Everett,
Washington, wireless network technology helps
patrol officers fulfill that mission by providing realtime,
on-the-scene information that keeps them
connected to each other and dramatically increases
their ability to respond quickly and effectively to
crime and security threats.

What do you get when you put four nonprofit organizations,
all competing for the same pool of funding and
volunteers, together in one room? With the help of Cisco and Cisco® Internet Business Solutions Group
(IBSG), all four nonprofits benefited from innovation,
knowledge sharing, and a collaborative plan that will
help each organization save millions of dollars per year
in administrative expenses.

The Government of Ontario (www.gov.on.ca) is becoming a networked virtual
organization—dissolving organizational walls, reducing the size of government,
increasing productivity, and building a client-service sensibility that’s yielding high
satisfaction ratings.

Broadband infrastructures leverage a multiplicity of technology solutions in terms both of
transport and of access. Technology choices definitely influence the strategic direction of
broadband government programs, but this book focuses on strategic and organizational
issues and does not discuss technology solutions, architectures and trends.

We live in a Knowledge Society, where connectivity delivers information at unprecedented speeds, in multiple formats and creates opportunities for new partnerships. In this exciting age education is the prime driver for economic growth, peace and prosperity. Connected Schools demonstrates how governments across the world have realised the need to focus resources on the evolution of their educational systems, and have used new technology and the Internet to drive change. Order a copy of this book.

This book, consisting of 14 essays from national governments, is about the concept of Connected Government and. examines the issues involved in developing and implementing compelling national e-government strategies. It explores the Connected Government strategy which is built on six pillars: citizen centricity, standardized common infrastructure, back-office reorganization, governance, new organizational model, and social inclusion. Order a copy of this book.

The ideas explored in Connected Cities chart the emergence of a political and economic phenomenon-the city as the new connected republic of the 21st Century. Simon Willis, Global Head of eGovernment for the Internet Business Solutions Group at Cisco Systems, has collated essays that show how different cities, at the cutting edge of the process, are grappling with the various stages of connectivity. Order a copy of this book.

Companies need to assess and improve their business capabilities - requiring visionary leadership; executive sponsorship; a willingness to invest, experiment, and learn new technologies; and a culture that encourages action and change.

In today's manufacturing environment, the effectiveness of team-based, collaborative problem-solving initiatives is often hampered by limited time and budget to bring together globally dispersed teams.Cisco IBSG proposes an immersive, interactive virtual environment to facilitate collaboration and overcome the challenges of time, distance, and limited resources.

IBSG involvement with the ENDESA Technology Innovation Group started in October 2006, with the initial collaboration addressing the benefits of adopting radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for asset tracking and management. With the involvement of Cisco's experts, as well as AeroScout, a Cisco partner and leader in the field of RFID, key trends and best practices from Cisco's manufacturing customer supply chains were shared, and the need to increase operational and cost efficiency was recognized..

Ford Motor Company launched several programs designed to increase car-owner satisfaction and the experience customers have with Ford after their purchase. Two new self-service Websites, www.customersaskford.com and www.dealersaskford.com, allow customers and dealers to easily find the information they need. In addition, the company is expanding into Web 2.0 communication channels to establish a direct dialogue with owners.

Using a common Web Foundation to support standardized tools and processes, with a new group intranet to transform the workplace and a B2B portal serving customers, Eczacibasi deployed a phased approach to e-transformation that has saved time and money during a successful period of growth at home and abroad.

IBSG helped Intel implement a Customer Interaction Network (CIN) to increase customer satisfaction and number of support issues resolved by customer self-help, double technical support productivity without doubling overhead, and improve communication between customers and Intel channel support.

Manufacturing

EMEAR

Video / Audio

Jan-06

KOC holdings increase revenue and productivity by implementing E-transformation solutions with the aid of Cisco's Internet Business Solutions Group.

Manufacturing

EMEAR

Success Story

Oct-05

Siemens Building Technologies needed to introduce more flexibility to its business in order to reduce costs and improve time to market. By out-tasking engineering to a number of different partners around the world, Siemens Building Technologies expects to reduce engineering costs and potentially, double its profit. Greater agility will also help it to respond more effectively to customers’ needs and bring solutions to market more quickly.

Manufacturing

EMEAR

Success Story

Sep-05

How does a company with public utility roots,
which has grown at breakneck speed into a
diversified international operator focused firmly
on profits, stay abreast of its own hectic pace of
change and increase the value gained from it? For
Centrica, a good starting point was a companywide
programme of web enablement, helping the
business to communicate better with itself and its
customers.

After several years of working together on discrete
projects, the north German federal states of
Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein have merged their
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
departments. The new organisation – Dataport – h
standardised on IP with Cisco technologies to bring
different networks together to provide a seamle
architecture for services such as security, mobility
and quality of service.

Boeing developed a mobile, global broadband communications
network with an array of high-speed
data communication services by combining satellite
networks with a ground-based network. Calling
the new effort ‘Connexion by Boeing,’ the company
enables commercial airlines to provide passengers
access to the Internet, send and receive e-mail,
watch live, global television, and keep up with news
and information. Boeing’s goal was to make highspeed
communications in the sky similar to that
currently experienced by most people in their
homes or offices, thereby helping people to stay in
touch even while moving 500 miles per hour at an
altitude of 30,000 feet.

Known for its innovative use of technology to streamline business
operations and increase productivity, CEMEX turned an IT eye to its
workforce. With a strategy of growth by acquisition, the company needed
to unify newly-acquired workers as well as employees across multiple
countries. The solution: CEMEX Plaza, an employee portal that’s
connecting people to information and improving customer service—and
satisfaction.

IBM, the world's leading on-demand information technology business, partnered with Cisco
to significantly improve productivity through the transformation of its global voice and data
communications infrastructure.

Motorola brought together leaders from each of the company’s business
units to share best practices, improve profitability, and
achieve US$3 billion in cost reduction within three years
through its Digital Six Sigma initiative.
together leaders from each of the company’s business
units to share best practices, improve profitability, and
achieve US$3 billion in cost reduction within three years
through its Digital Six Sigma initiative.
together leaders from each of the company’s business
units to share best practices, improve profitability, and
achieve US$3 billion in cost reduction within three years
through its Digital Six Sigma initiative.

Semiconductor manufacturer Infineon, the sixth largest in the
world, weathered the global
technology downturn in the early
years of this decade through a
resolute, centrally driven cost
reduction programme. Now it
is turning that experience to
its advantage through a clear
corporate strategy aimed at
achieving operational excellence.
Benchmarking against the world’s
most successful companies – and
adopting the ‘best of best practices’
– is at the centre of its drive for
optimal effifi ciency and effectiveness.

While attention has been focused on the technology of cloud computing, the technology is tested and ready. The real story about cloud is its compelling economic advantages. Data storage and associated technologies have become commoditized and can be delivered more cost-effectively by cloud providers. This allows enterprises to shed the cost of equipment, software, maintenance, and IT staff. It also allows them to purchase cloud services on demand, paying for peak usage, scaling back when the capacity is no longer required. Service providers are in the best position to act as cloud service providers because they have the existing infrastructure, they understand managed services, they have an existing trusted relationship with customers, and they know how to play the role of a service exchange.

Tomorrow’s loyalty programs need to offer more than general discounts; they need to create a personalized shopping experience—beyond rewards and points—where loyalty once again means advocacy and commitment. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is an ideal technology for providing these new experiences, offering the ability to identify specific customers and match the right products and services to them.

Cloud computing is an economic shift, not a technology shift. Cloud is gaining momentum because of its compelling economic advantages­­. IT services, much like farming, have become commoditized. Maintaining in-house data centers provisioned for peak demand is expensive. Cloud computing represents "IT on demand," where companies can buy what they need, when they need it, shedding the expense of data center hardware, software, maintenance, and staff.

The evolution of consumer technologies in the last decade has led to a proliferation of devices, web applications, and content resources that enable consumers to research, purchase from, and interact with companies through the physical or online store, call center, or social networking site. Unifying the customer experience in a multichannel world has become essential to engaging, acquiring, and retaining customers. Therefore, it is important to develop a robust multichannel platform with an extensible architecture that allows a company to deliver relevant information and interactions to customers based on their contextual and technology needs.

Events that disrupt business occur every day. And while it is impossible to predict exactly where and when these disruptions might happen, scenario planning can help organizations protect revenue streams, increase profitability, and ensure business continuity despite major upheavals.

Securing information resources in a borderless world begins with an overarching network architecture that enables IT to efficiently manage access from multiple locations, from multiple devices, and to applications that can be located anywhere.

As technology creates new ways of doing business, companies are realizing that they must transform their processes. For many industries, new products generated by research and development aren’t enough to drive growth, so innovation takes on an increasingly important role.

Four technologies have the greatest potential to spur transformation for global enterprises within the next two to three years: mobile Internet, business analytics, social networking, and cloud computing.

The continued growth of the Internet means every customer in the market will eventually need to transition to IPv6, the next generation of Internet architecture. The challenge for CIOs over the next few years is to come up with an IPv6 transition strategy.

With the pressures of globalization, increased competition, and the continually accelerating
information explosion, the need for employees, customers, and partners to come together,
exchange knowledge, gain fresh perspectives, build networks, and nurture relationships has
never been greater.

Security leaders must articulate their ability to support business objectives and add value beyond loss prevention. As part of a unified risk-management strategy, today’s security solutions—especially those employing modern video surveillance and analytics—can provide new opportunities for revenue generation and customer loyalty. This paper suggests an expanded view of how to use security resources more fully to extend benefits throughout the value chain.

This paper will take a brief look at the special challenges security professionals face as a result of the new, distributed computing paradigm, and will suggest a unified risk-management strategy to stay ahead of the game.

CIOs with a firm command of technology’s advantages and challenges will be well-positioned to provide meaningful solutions for a changing corporate landscape. This paper discusses some of the issues that should be top-of-mind for CIOs today.

Today, ubiquitous broadband technology frees us from a structured scenario; work is done wherever the worker happens to be, anytime, using an array of devices and applications to accomplish tasks. In theory, this sounds wonderful—but are we ready for it?

The increased emphasis on technology can be daunting for chief information officers, who must devise complex IT strategies—but it also provides exciting opportunities for companies with the vision to invest in their futures. This paper looks at some of the hallmarks of the new normal, and the changes for which CIOs and other top executives need to plan.

Today, four powerful market transitions—periods of movement from one stage to another—are taking place in the financial services industry. These transitions create new opportunities for innovative, forward-thinking companies that are ready to take advantage of these shifts.

This paper will take a brief look at some of the ways intrusions on commerce and infrastructure are targeting nations and global organizations, and will suggest a strategic approach to securing our critical resources.

There are powerful economic, regulatory, shareholder, competitive, and customer trends driving an increased focus on green. However, some organizations are concerned that going green is going to increase their costs. Cisco has found that many of our existing solutions have a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time reducing costs. Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) has developed these easy-to-use Green Business Value Calculators to help customers quickly quantify both economic benefits and green benefits. The projected green benefits have been validated by Domani, a leading environmental consulting firm, and are supported by case studies.

The right architecture holds the key to agility and should be viewed as a strategic imperative for IT organizations. This paper explores how your organization can achieve this imperative and increase agility greatly by adopting four key architectural elements: flexible infrastructure, flexible services, flexible service orchestration, and governance.

IBSG Economics analysis conclusions show that companies will still be better off replacing legacy telephony TDM equipment that is not fully depreciated, and realize a positive return on their communications investments, if they deploy a converged telecommunications infrastructure.

This paper provides insights to large enterprises that may be considering a cloud services strategy. It presents a framework that defines cloud services and their essential elements, examining their benefits and challenges.

The Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG) Hospitality Practice Backgrounder gives an overview of the Cisco IBSG Global Hospitality Practice. The Backgrounder discusses the current state of the hospitality industry and provides insight into new capabilities underpinned by emerging technologies that are transforming business and customer service models.

Technology-driven disruption is a major concern among European business leaders. How can CIOs help their companies and governments embrace these disruptions to drive innovation and productivity? Technology can lend insight into these issues.

Many banks across Europe are considering remote relationship manager services to conduct transactions with affluent customers. While most banks are deploying these services, few actually use web-based document sharing and video. BNP Paribas Fortis took a different approach that challenged these beliefs. To increase market share and strengthen relationships with mass-affluent customers who don’t have time for complex, in-branch transactions, the bank deployed a web-based service, called James, that enables remote advisers to conduct com¬prehensive financial meetings with customers via video/data-sharing technology.

A major European bank turned to Cisco IBSG to help develop a suite of mobile banking services that would attract and retain customers. More than 300,000 customers are now using the bank’s new mobile channel.

Perspectives on key retail banking opportunities for 2011—"Save to Invest" and "Invest to Win." Improving productivity and cutting costs through better collaboration, while in parallel addressing the most important areas for future growth.

This report provides in-depth analysis of a recent Cisco study of 1,000 wealthy U.S. investors to understand their attitudes toward investing in today’s challenging economic environment; their relationships with financial advisers; their use of technology; and how they prefer to interact with financial services firms and advisers.

Given the challenges insurance companies face today from heightened consumer expectations, new market entrants and niche players, powerful demographic shifts, and advances in technology, it is important for executives to think seriously about transforming their companies’ centuries-old business models to become more relevant to their customers.

The global macroeconomic situation has presented the financial services (FS) industry with a myriad of challenges over the last few years. As the industry prepares to enter 2011, the financial services landscape will continue to pose many interesting challenges to FS players. As a result, most banks are reviewing the strategy they should adopt to ensure future competitiveness.

A leading global bank wanted to integrate three separately operating divisions into a unified whole, and to offer best-in-class services to “ultra-high-net-worth individuals.” Cisco IBSG recommended a global account management (GAM) approach to focus not on product features and price, but rather on extending the bank’s value through advisory services. The bank’s customer satisfaction increased dramatically, and it has realized more than $1 billion a year in additional revenue.

Generali Group demonstrates how improving collaboration and communications, strategically implemented to address specific issues, can achieve business transformation.

Financial Services

Americas

Video / Audio

Dec-09

The CEO of BMO Financial Group (9th largest bank in North America) and senior leaders in its wealth management business in Toronto and Harris Private Bank in Chicago, discuss how Cisco TelePresence has become an integral part of their business: enabling and encouraging the drive for faster, cheaper, wider, greener, and more effective collaboration across their global institution.

Examine technologies that constitute the Next-generation Web, and how these capabilities play out in the real world of retail banking. In this paper, IBSG discuss next steps banks can take to use Web 2.0 technologies to differentiate themselves in the market, retain customers, attract new ones, and protect and extend competitiveness.

Learn how connected consumers behaviors and perceptions are changing relative to shopping and payments. Cisco IBSG launches a survey whose findings provide a roadmap for banks to evaluate their current competitive position as well as recommendations for creating new channels for revenue in today’s severe economic downturn.

Credit Suisse has created a virtual campus with multichannel “blended learning” replacing some classroom content and learning better integrated in business workflows. As well as significantly reducing cost (conservatively estimated at US$3M to $5M per year), even greater value is expected through increased up-selling of sophisticated products and by accelerating the time people need to reach the top of the “learning curve.”

This paper explores how the next generation information and communication technologies are impacting complex, virtualized operations in industries such as the military. Case studies and lessons learned are presented together with insights and experience on how these findings can be applied to offshore production operations.

In 2004, Repsol began plans to build two new corporate offices, both to be completed in 2008. Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the first campus in Madrid, Spain, will consist of seven buildings for 5,000 employees. The second building in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will be 77,000 square meters and is being designed by Cesar Pelli.

The oil and gas industry relies on information and communications technology (ICT) to meet its business goals. The industry recognizes that to manage future oil and gas developments and the effective production of existing reserves, it will be essential to integrate and connect business processes, geographies, and organizations.

As world demand for oil and gas increases, energy prices are rising. Globally, oil and gas will remain the energy source of choice for power generation and transportation to 2030 and beyond, according to the International Energy Agency.

World demand for oil and gas is at an all-time high as emerging economies demand increasing amounts to fuel their growth. The Energy Information Administration predicts that wold oil demand will grow from 80 million barrels per day (at 2003 levels) to 118 million barrels per day by 2030.